strawberry salsa with sugared pita chips

photo by Cassandra Birocco

This salsa of fresh summer strawberries is a showstopper, especially when paired with these sweet pita chips dusted with cinnamon and sugar. As with any salsa, you can adjust the desired level of spice to your own liking by adding in more jalapeño or even leaving in some of the seeds (where the real spice is). This salsa is best made right before you serve it, but if you need to make it ahead of time, just drain any excess liquid from the bottom of the bowl (the fresher the strawberries, the more liquid will accumulate).

Sugared Pita Chips

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

2 pitas

1 teaspoon sugar

1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Strawberry Salsa

1 pint strawberries, washed, hulled, and diced

1/4 small white onion, finely minced

1/2 jalapeño pepper, seeded and finely minced

1 tablespoon finely minced fresh mint (or cilantro)

Kosher salt, to taste

Juice from 1/2-1 lime

Preheat oven to 425°F.

Make sugared pita chips. In a small saucepan, melt butter.

In a small bowl, combine sugar and cinnamon.

Using a sharp knife, gently split open edges of each pita at its seam, separating each into two rounds. Using a pastry brush, gently brush melted butter on coarse inner side of each round. Sprinkle tops with a little bit of cinnamon sugar. Repeat with remaining pita rounds. Cut each round into desired shapes. Spread pitas out in a single layer onto 1-2 baking sheets. Bake until golden brown, about 3-4 minutes. Set aside to cool.

Make salsa. In a medium bowl, add strawberries, onion, jalapeño, mint (or cilantro), a pinch of salt, and lime juice from 1/2 lime and gently toss together until combined. Adjust seasonings, adding in more lime juice if necessary. Transfer to a serving bowl and serve with chips.

Serves 4-6.

Recipe from: The Coastal Table: Recipes Inspired by the Farmlands and Seaside of Southern New England. Published by Union Park Press, 2013.